Haval H9 scores four-star ANCAP crash rating

Chinese brand's large SUV fails frontal offset crash test.

The large seven-seat Haval H9 SUV has received a four-star rating from the Australasian New Car Assessment Program (ANCAP).

While scoring well in side impact and whiplash tests, the crash test authority found it had sub-standard lower leg protection and that there was a slight risk of serious chest injury, which is enough to warrant a four-star rating.

"New vehicle buyers have come to expect 5 star safety from new models and unfortunately this result falls short of marketplace expectations," said ANCAP Chief Executive Officer, Mr James Goodwin.

"This is the first rating for the Haval brand in Australia following its entry to the local market last year and the first independent safety rating for the H9 in the world," he said.

These results will put it at odds with its competitors, including the Ford Everest and Toyota Fortuner, both of which have received a five-star rating.

Haval Australia has stated that it was "very surprised' by the crash test results, but the company would strive to improve the result in the future.

"Our engineers have been working very hard to deliver a five-star safety rating and all our testing indicated that we would achieve this result. The results of the ANCAP test were clearly unexpected," Haval spokesman, Andrew Ellis, said.

"Safety will never be an option on HAVAL and we will be looking to test the H9 as soon as possible in conjunction with ANCAP," Ellis said.

This was also the first time Haval had been independently tested outside of China, where its cars had previously been awarded five-stars by C-NCAP, China's crash test authority.

Haval has previously claimed its C-NCAP five-star rating for its small H2 SUV, despite C-NCAP's use of a more lenient test regime that does not meet local standards.

ANCAP has also not tested the Chinese SUV brand's H8 SUV.

Last year both the Hyundai Tucson and Kia Carnival were given four-star ratings by ANCAP due to issues with the footwell, both have since been upgraded after the South Korean sister brand's amended the issue.